Letter 198: Theodore Studite, Letter 198; Greek heading: Τιμοθέῳ τέκνῳ.

How beautiful is your letter, beloved child, adorned with faith and with love toward our humility. And indeed I glorify the Lord for your unchangeable disposition, and not only for that but also for your piety and good repute, in that, even while you are apart from the most God-loving archbishop, you pass your life among your brothers securely, lending yourself to them in all things needful. But to what purpose are the praises which you direct toward me? Do you not know that I am destitute of every good? This too, altogether, is the result of your friendly manner. Rather, then, brother, pray, leaving off such words, and especially now, when a fire of impiety is consuming the Church, when there are martyric contests, producing on the one hand the athletes of Christ who choose the right and are pious-such as Thaddeus, our holy brother, and any others-and on the other hand the cowards [literally, those who shun the fray], who procure the disgrace of desertion, such as Lucian, our pitiable brother, and any of like character. I exhort you therefore, my beloved child, to be prepared, and not to suppose that you will remain untested, as though you were standing far off somewhere. The snatching-away will come when we do not expect it, since God too tests each person as in fire, and the ruler [the iconoclast emperor Leo V the Armenian] rages against us more than against the others, both on account of what has gone before and because of our greater resistance. For who else among the subordinate monks is now contending in the struggle except our own, or who has been perfected in blood except Thaddeus the martyr? Be firm, therefore, I exhort you, not only yourself but also the brothers and children of mine who are with you, so that, even if such things do not come, we may be martyrs in our resolve. The Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit; grace be with you all. Amen.